Shield for use in warfare.



No. 660.478. I Patented 0ct..l23, I900.

H. M.'WELLS. SHIELD-FOR USE IN WARFARE.

. (Appl e. nfil ch! 11 27 1900\ (No Model.)

jiivflfor I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY MARSHALL WELLS, OFTORONTO, CANADA.

SHIELD FOR USE IN WARFARE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 660,478, dated October 23, 1900.

Application filed January 27, 1900- Serial No. 3,045. (No model.)

To (ZZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, HENRY MARSHALL WELLS, of the cityof Toronto, in the county of York, Province of Ontario, Canada, have invented a certain new and Improved Shield for Use in Warfare, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to devise a life-saving shield which will stop and turn into the ground all bullets which may strike it, so that it may be used to save from death and injury the men behind it without danger of injuring others to one side of and behind the shield.. With this object in View my invention consists of a shield comprising sides forming a V with one another, each side being provided at the rear with a gutter slanting rearwardly and downwardly, so that bullets striking the slanting sides of the shield are deflected into the gutter, and by it directed into the ground, the whole being constructed in detail, substantially as hereinafter described and then definitely claimed.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my shield provided with wheels. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view of a shield without wheels. Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing an additional flange with loopholes formed at the rear edges of the sides of the machine. Fig. 4 is a section on the line a a in Fig. 3. an enlarged sectional detail showing the method of joining the sides to the front edge of the shield. Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective detail of one of the loopholes in the sides of the shield. Fig. 7 is a perspective detail illustrating the construction of the brace which holds the sides in position.

In the drawings like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

A are the sides of the shield, preferably formed of nickel steel of suitable gage to withstand ordinary rifle or maxim fire. Each side is substantially triangular in shape and they are joined together by their forward vertical edges to form a V open at the rear.'

Each side is preferably curved from front to rear, as indicated, though a certain measure of utility is attained if the sides be flat. If the sides are curved, as indicatecha bullet striking the shield from almost any point in Fig. 5 isfront of it will travel along the shield in contact therewith toward the rear edge. If the surface is flat, the bullet may glance off it at a small angle, thus necessitating a larger gutter at the rear of the side to catch it. The

reason as that given for the curvature of the sides themselves. Although, preferably formed integral with the sides, as described, these gutters may be, of course, formed of separate pieces riveted, brazed, or welded in position.

As it is desirable for the purpose of transportation that the shields be so made that they can be taken apart, I illustrate more particularly in Figs. 2, 5, and 7 the means pro- Vided for this purpose.

0 is a piece forming the front edge of the shield. In section this piece is shaped like an arrow-head. Up and down the sides aof this piece 0 are formed a series of studs 5. When it is desired to assemble the shield, the front edges of the sides are inserted between the sides ctand the central rib o. By spreading apart the rear edges of the sides suitable holes formed in their front edges are caused to engage the studs 1), as indicated in Figs. 2 and 5. It is evident that as long as the sides are kept spread apart it is impossible to disengage them from the piece 0.

The rib 0, while convenient, as it provides the sides with separate grooves into which the edges of the sides may fit, is not essential, as contact of the front edges of the sides themselves would be sufficient to hold them in place.

In order to keep the sides of the shield spread apart after their engagement with the front edge piece 0, I provide a brace D, the ends of which are provided with slotted lugs E. These slotted lugs are adapted to engage with the headed studs F. When these lugs are so engaged,it is evident that the sides can neither be spread farther apart nor collapsed.

G shows loopholes cut in the sides of the shield. Each loophole is protected by a guard H, which is formed on or secured to the side immediately in front of the loophole. The back of this guard may, if necessary, be strengthened, as indicated in Fig. 6.

Any bullet striking the shield in front of the loophole will, by a slight curvature of the guard H, be directed clear of the loophole, whereas if such a guard were not provided the bullet traveling along the surface of the shield .might enter a loophole and do injury to any one behind it. Two such loopholes are shown in the drawings, though more may" be provided, if desired.

As it may be desirable in some cases that more than two men behind the shield shall have the opportunity of firing at the same time the shield may be provided, as indicated in Fig. 3, with a flange I, formed on or secured to the gutter B and provided with one or more embrasures J.

For the purpose of moving forward the shield when making an attack or for other purposes use may be made of handles, such as K in Fig. 2, by means of which the shield may be lifted and carried forward by those operating with it. It may also be provided with Wheels L, such as shown in Fig. 1, the forward wheel being inside in the point of the V and the two rearward wheels at each side outside the shield, so as to give more roomfor soldiers behind the shield. These wheels will "of course be made sufficiently heavy and of suitable material to obviate injury froin bullets.

I do not wish to confine myself to exact proportions; but a shield six feet high and six feet wide at the base will probably be found to be most serviceable for use with infantry, one shield being sufficient to guard from oneto ten men in the face of rifle or maxim fire.

From the above description it will be seen that I have devised an efficient shield which will catch and direct to the ground all bullets which may strike it from any point in front, thus not only efficiently sheltering the men behind it, but also rendering it impossible for bullets to glance off the shield, and thus injure men behind and at one side of it. Such a shield would prove of invaluable service in attacking entrenched positions or enabling a considerable body of troops to be brought close up to the entrenchments without injury, and so enabling the commander to assault the position with a body of men brought harmlessly up to the pointfrom which a bayonet-charge may be made to the best advantage. As the shield may be readily knocked down for the purpose of transportation it may be very conveniently transported to the scene of action.

With slight modification the shield may be applied to machine-guns, artillery, men-of war, forts, and any other place where the protection of life from rifle or machine-gun fire is a consideration.

By making the shield of sufficient strength it may be rendered capable of stopping and rendering harmless heavy shell fire or solid shot from large guns.

What I claim as my invention is l. A shield comprising two sides connected together at their forward edges to form a V open at the rear and provided at their rear sides with flanges forming gutters, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. A shield comprising two sides connected together at their forward edges to form a V open at the rear and provided at their rear sides with flanges forming gutters sloping downwardly and rearwardly toward the ground.

3. A shield comprising two sides curved in a concave from front to rear and connected together at their forward edges to form a V open at the rear and provided at their rear sides with flanges forming gutters, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. A shield comprising two sides curved in a concave from front to rear and connected together attheir forward edges to form a V open at the rear and provided at their rear sides with flanges forming gutters sloping downwardly and rearwardly toward the ground, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. A shield comprising two sides connected together at their forward edges to form a V open at the rear and provided at their rear sides with flanges forming gutters sloping downwardly and rearward ly in a concave curve toward the ground, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

6. A shield comprising two sides curved in a concave from front to rear and connected together at their forward edges to form a V open at the rear and provided at their rear sides with flanges forming gutters sloping downwardly and rearwardly in a concave curve toward the ground, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

7. A shield provided in one side with a loophole and a guard immediatelyin front of the loophole set at a slight angle to the side so as to deflect a bullet traveling along the side over the loophole, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

8. Ashield comprising two sides connected together at their forward edges to form a V open at the rear and provided at their rear sides with flanges forming gutters and a flange turned upwardly from one of the aforesaid flanges and provided with embrasures or loop holes, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

9. In a shield the combination of the front edge piece 0 provided with the sides or Wings a; the studs 1); the sides A provided with suitable holes to en gage the studs I) and a suitable 11. A shield comprising two sides curved in removable brace to hold the sides apart, suba concave from front to rear and connected stantially as and for the purpose specified. together at their forward edges to form a V 10. In a shield the combination of the front open at the rear, substantially as and for the 5 edge piece O provided with the rib c; the sides purpose specified.

or wings a; the studs b; the sides Aprovided Toronto, January 17, 1900.

with suitable holes toengage the studs 1) and HENRY MARSHALL WELLS. a suitable removable brace to hold the sides In presence of apart, substantially as and for the purpose JOHN G. RIDOUT,

1o specified. J. M. WEBSTER. 

